Chandler Jones, all 265 pounds of him, was shirtless. He was on his knees. His hands were clasped together behind his head as if he was surrendering to police.

Or, in the opinion of one officer who was on the scene at a local police station here, it appeared as if he was praying and “desperately” seeking assistance from the cops.

This is the state law enforcement officers found all-pro New England Patriots defensive lineman Chandler Jones on Sunday morning in a Foxborough police station parking lot.

We can’t make this stuff up.

Welcome to “As The Patriots Turn,” the neverending soap opera that never bores.

And you thought Spygate and Deflategate were bizarre.

In this latest action-packed episode, Jones said Thursday that he was sorry for his actions. It was his first public statement since that strange incident four days earlier which ended up with him being hospitalized after having a negative reaction to a substance he put into his body.

“I want to start off by saying I made a pretty stupid mistake this weekend,” Jones admitted during a brief two minute audience with the media here at Gillette Stadium. “I feel I need to apologize to everyone.

“But right now, like I said, I made a mistake. Each and every day, all I can focus on is Kansas City. I know it sounds competitive and it sounds like I’m repeating myself. That’s what it is right now; becoming the best 95 I can be to help this team out.”

Chandler, who wears No. 95, led the Patriots with 12.5 sacks this season, He has practised every day this week in preparation for Saturday’s AFC divisional round playoff game against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.

“I apologize to all the fans and everyone I support, but this weekend … I’m focusing on having probably the biggest game of my life and try to just clear this,” he continued. “Like I said, I made a stupid mistake, and hopefully it can just blow by.”

Easier said than done, Mr. Jones.

To no one’s surprise, Jones would not elaborate on the details of the events that took place this past Sunday including the allegation that the incident was spawned by the ill-effects of synthetic marijuana. Coach Bill Belichick was just as tight-lipped but, then again, you’ll have a hard time getting The Hoodie to confirm that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, let alone come clean concerning Jonesgate.

Synthetic marijuana, which does not actually contain marijuana, is usually sold as a substance that is inhaled in e-cigarettes or vaporized as liquid incense. Side effects are said to be anxiety, confusion and paranoia.

While synthetic marijuana is not illegal, the NFL is aware of the situation and is reviewing the incident, which possibly could lead to Jones entering Stage 1 of the league’s Substance Abuse Program.

During his morning press conference, Belichick started his question-and-answer session with the media by offering the following statement:

“There’s nothing more important than the health and well-being of our staff and players,” Belichick said, refusing to confirm if Jones’s medical situation would affect how his gifted quarterback hunter would be used against the Chiefs.

“We’ll see on Saturday. I could just give you our gameplan and you can Xerox it to Kansas City.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid understands The Hoodie was making a sarcastic quip as is his norm. As such, he wasn’t waiting by the Xerox machine for Belichick’s delivery to arrive. Besides, he’s seen enough of Jones to know what he’s all about.

“He’s a pretty good football player and he’s coached by a pretty good coach,” Reid said. “So I’m sure they’ll have a variety of things that they do with him.”

While Jones and Belichick weren’t willingly spilling the beans about Sunday’s weird occurance, the Foxborough Police Dept. released a detailed account from Officer David J. Foscaldo of his interaction with Jones Sunday morning.

According to the report, Foscaldo stated that he observed “a shirtless black male party wearing blue-colored (cotton) sweatpants” come into the parking lot “randomly scurrying” before making a “b-line” for the station’s rear door.

Foscaldo then noted that “without any warning or provocation, this man got down on his knees, he interlocked his fingers, and he placed his hands tightly against the back of his head. For a quick second or two, this man held this position – it was like this man was trying to surrender (he was literally ‘as stiff as a board’/he was both upright and rigid). This man abruptly released his hands and he started to move slowly toward the ground. Honestly, it appeared as if he was actively worshipping or praying.”

Foscaldo wrote that “It was quite evident that Mr. Jones was desperately seeking our assistance, and he had certainly not committed any crimes — nor had he violated any laws or town by-laws.” Foscaldo’s report said Jones was unarmed and did not have any narcotics in his possession.

Foscaldo wrote that Jones was unable to provide police a “plausible or legitimate” explanation as to why he was at the police station or why he headed for the rear door,” adding that the Pats player was “polite, cooperative and respectful.”

Because it was a medical issue and not a police matter, paramedics from Foxborough’s fire department were brought in to take Jones to the hospital. While in the ambulance, Jones said he had left his keys at his home. When police were sent to the house to retrieve them, an officer noticed “the smell of burnt marijuana” and reported it.

Interestingly, when the police report was publicly released, parts of the document had been blacked out by what appeared to be a marker.

What was in the report that someone didn’t want seen?

Will there be any followup by law enforcement officials concerning the stench of weed noticed by an officer at Jones’s residence?

And, finally, since Jones allegedly said to the cops Sunday morning that he’d been “told” to go to the police station, who sent him?

Just a handful of the questions that remain unanswered in this peculiar case.

Perhaps the only certainty in this matter is that there is no team that can handle a distraction like this better than the Patriots. Given the controversies that have lingered over Team Hoodie during Belichick’s reign here, it’s almost as if this franchise feeds off the white noise.

In 2007, the Spygate scandal involving the alleged filming of the New York Jets was supposed to derail the Pats. Instead they went 16-0.

In 2013, his teammates were shocked to learn that tight end Aaron Hernandez had been leading a secret life away from Gillette Stadium, one that included accusations of murder. That season, the Patriots reached the AFC championship game.

And no one in these parts is about to forget the Deflategate mess of a year ago, one that involved the Indianapolis Colts accusing the Patriots of letting the air out of footballs during the AFC championship game. Two weeks later, Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady enjoyed the sweetest of moments by rubbing their success into the faces of Roger Goodell and co. by accepting the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl champs after squeaking past the Seattle Seahawks.

Aside from the obsessively-focused Belichick, how do the Patriots manage to shut out all this chaos?

“We have a lot of great leaders on this team,” linebacker Dont’a Hightower explained Thursday afternoon after the team had completed practice. “They help the young guys understand what’s expected.”

How will Jonesgate alter the outcome of Saturday’s Chiefs-Patriots game, if at all? Judging by the way the Pats have handled such controversies in the past, not much.

At the same time, much like Deflategate, we still don’t know the full story of what happened with Chandler Jones on Sunday morning, even though the details that are trickling in with each passing day are at least making things clearer.

And perhaps we never will.

Patriots hoping Gronkowski healthy enough to play

Gronk likes to spike footballs.

But will his touchdown celebrations be spiked themselves by a wonky knee, one that has left him questionable to suit up against the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC divisional playoff game Saturday at Gillette Stadium?

The Patriots are hoping that Rob Gronkowski will be able to play but it is becoming evident that he’ll be a game-time decision. The all-world tight end practised on Monday, was held out Tuesday, was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday, then missed the entire workout here on Thursday.

A source familiar with the situation told ESPN.com that Gronk spent part of Thursday in a Boston hospital getting treatment on his injured right knee which included an injection.

Gronk banged up his right knee during a Nov. 29 loss to the Broncos in snowy Denver, then sat out the following game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He did return to the lineup and finished out the season.

If Gronk can’t play, the Patriots’ starting tight end would be former Buffalo Bill Scott Chandler.

Chiefs cautious with injured Maclin

At least speedy wideout Jeremy Maclin was on the practice field on Thursday.

But not for team drills.

And not for the entire workout.

Having suffered a high ankle sprain in Kansas City’s 30-0 wild-card game drubbing of the Houston Texans this past Saturday, Maclin was at practice for the first time this week. Having said that, he was off to the side working by himself and did not join the rest of the Chiefs for workouts.

Asked about how Maclin fared, Chiefs coach Andy Reid replied: “OK.”

If Maclin — a long shot to suit up — does play in Saturday’s wild-card playoff game against the host Patriots here at Gillette Stadium, the ailment certainly will slow him down, stifling his effectiveness in the process.

Linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali also did not take part in the Chiefs team drills during this, their final practice of the week.

Houston missed the final five games of the season with a hyper-extended knee but returned to action against the Texans last week. Hali has been suffering from a broken thumb and swelling in both knees.

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